possibility…

Photo: L. Solonynko
Much is written about the benefits of goal setting and articulating our dreams. It seems, however, that goals may be even more important than we thought. In 2008, psychologists Baruch Eitam, Ran Hassin and Yaacov Schul at Hebrew University studied the benefit of “non-conscious goal pursuit”–moving toward a desired goal without being aware [...]

Photo: Mary R. Vogt
Researchers have found that people who approach stress-filled workplace experiences with a specific mind-set can weather difficult times with improved performance and happiness and even greater enthusiasm for their jobs!
In the early 1980s, a 12-year study by psychologist Salvatore R. Maddi and others at the University of Chigago was already in progress [...]

Photo: L.M. Solonynko
In my opinion, listening is so critical for resilience that it should really be change-ability tip #1. We all spend much of our daily lives listening. If you live with another person, pets, or even a radio, listening starts when you wake up in the morning. However, if you’re concerned about your resilience [...]

Ever thought about why you like to spend time  in one room versus another? Do you avoid shopping in a particular store because you find the (dis)organization or appearance overwhelming? Do you eat the entire bag of corn chips unless you put them out of sight/reach in the cupboard? That our environment affects our behaviour [...]

Think about the people in your life and the positive attributes you’ve observed. Most of us have no difficulty listing the positive characteristics of our friends and colleagues. But how often do we tell them?
I first tried this change-ability tip in a coaching program I was developing for recent graduates of university/training programs. I wanted [...]

Experienced workers beware–Prove you are adaptable on the job
Feeling confident about job prospects because of your extensive work experience? According to researchers at Ohio State University, previous work experience may be a downside if you don’t also possess the adaptability needed to fit into a new workplace. If you are well into your career or [...]

I’m wondering whether spending the weekend at a blogging conference might be an excuse for missing my blog posting commitment. Friday and Saturday I attended my first Northern Voice conference. My friend Tara recommended it a while back and I so I was poised and ready to pounce when tickets when on sale. There are [...]

Knowledge (dare I say wisdom?) is a strange thing. Have you noticed how when in deep conversation with someone about a topic you find really interesting … or when engaged in creative writing … surprises will emerge. Things that I didn’t know I knew will pop out when I’m talking about related topics. I don’t [...]

Chart of happiness
The graph shows friends, spouses and siblings in 2000. Circles are females, squares are males and the lines between them indicate relationships (black for siblings, red for friends and spouses). Colors show the average happiness of a person and all of his or her social relations, with [...]

Facing challenges at work or elsewhere in your life? You’re in good company. Personally, my response is to put my head down and to try to work harder… or at least work longer. For me, this is “playing it safe” rather than boldly initiating change. So far, this strategy hasn’t been as successful as I’d [...]